By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 10-11-11

It was a game which pundits had tipped Asante Kotoko to run over Mighty Jets. However, it seems many had forgotten how the Tudu based club stretched the fabulous team the last time they visited the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Thus when after 90 minutes of unexciting action, the giant score board at the stadium read 0-0, memories of the difficulties Kotoko experienced in breaking the hard resolve of Mighty Jets the other time started resurfacing.

Kotoko’s onslaught on Mighty Jets in the first minute of the five-minute time added-on, totally changed the complexion of the game and the feeling all over the stadium. Substitute striker, Nafiu Iddrisu delivered a powerful close-range header that beat Mighty Jets goalkeeper, Shaibu Ibrahim to send the worried Kotoko fans on their feet cheering, singing and dancing to loud brass music from both ends of the field. It was a perfect finishing by the attacker, following an incursion launched by another substitute player, Afranie Yeboah whose excellent left-foot reached Nathaniel Asamoah on the left side of attack.

With quick pace, Nathaniel Asamoah neatly dashed into the box, curled the ball to Nafiu Iddrisu who marvelously outrun his marker to unmistakably head home. Tons of joy, cheers and praise swept through the fairly large jubilant crowd like wild fire as Nafiu Iddrisu sped off to the synthetic tracks to celebrate his super goal with his teammates.

As Kotoko players celebrated their vital goal, the distraught players of Mighty Jets went down like fallen objects because their unyielding fight had earned them nothing. And what a contrasting scene of emotions it was on the technical bench of the two teams.

As Coach Maxwell Konadu went on his knees – thanking the almighty God for that sweet and timely strike by Nafiu Iddrisu, Mighty Jets’ Head coach Alhassan Foster, stood with his hands on his waist, utterly shocked and bemused that his team could not fight till the last minute. Following is a minute by minute account of the midweek clash. 

1st minute: Kotoko starts game. Mighty Jets win possession. They launch a quick incursion from the right. Kotoko defenders organise well to foil their raid with an offside trap which striker, Tamimu Muntari fails to recognise. He is caught by Assistant referee Haruna Ayuba.

2nd minute: Kotoko initiates an attack with Awal Mohammed locating Yaw Frimpong who runs well to locate Nii Adjei close to the goal area. Before Nii Adjei could strike, Mighty Jets goalie Shaibu Issahaku with good anticipation surges out quickly to save the situation.

6th minute: Yaw Frimpong loses possession to Kofi Owusu. The Jets player runs well to connect Tamimu Muntari on the left but the attacker again falls into Kotoko’s offside trap as Assistant Referee Haruna Ayuba raises his flag.

9th minute: Jets are in control of the game. Kotoko is pushed back to defend. Abdul Haruna Ganiyu finds Winfred Dormon with a good pass in the middle but Winfred Dormon is flagged offside just when he moves forward.

10th minute: There is a temporary hold-up. Assistant Referee Haruna Ayuba is alert. He signals referee Charles Nii Tagoe for consultation. The referee comes to the touch line and he returns quickly to call Kofi Owusu who was seen by Referee Ayuba throwing an object into Kotoko’s post. The Mighty Jets player receives the yellow card.

16th minute: Yaw Frimpong wins possession. He outruns two markers but not centre back, Isaac Owusu who badly fouls him close to the goal area  He receives a yellow card.

20th minute: Pressure mounts on Awal Mohammed as he tries to dispossess Kofi Owusu in the 18-yard box. The attacker looks for options as he holds on to the ball; Awal goes in cautiously. The attacker turns to shoot, Awal stretches his long legs but could not stop the ball. Soulama comes off his line to save the situation.

22nd minute: Kotoko wins its first corner kick. Michael Akuffu floats the ball deeply into the 18-yard box but it is headed out by Isaac Owusu. Haruna Ganiyu picks the ball and locates Tamimu Muntari on the offensive. Nii Adjei however tackles well to dispossess Tamimu.

29th minute: Kotoko makes one clean incursion. Fatawu moves well to find Ahmed Toure on the offensive. Toure, who is having a hard time, fails to outwit Jacob Quao who wins possession to find Winfred Dormon.    

34th minute: Mighty Jets push for the opener. They win a corner kick as Haruna Ganiyu’s cross is intercepted and sent out by Awal Mohammed. Resultant corner kick however goes wayward.

38th minute: Amos Frimpong is fouled by Jacob Quao as he cuts into Mighty Jets’ territory dangerously. Referee shows Quao the yellow card. The resultant free kick taken by Michael Akuffu gives Kotoko little hope of scoring as it flies over the goalpost.

41st minute: Kotoko on the offensive. Nii Adjei runs swiftly on the right. He sends a good cross inside to the 18-yard box. On rushing Ahmed Toure is slightly impeded. This is at the blind side of the referee.

45th minute: Three minutes is added on. David Ofei is on the offensive, initiating attack from the middle. He however loses possession to Inusah Musah who brilliantly finds Tamimu Muntari upfront. After turning around to beat Michael Mensah, Tamimu gets close to the box. He fires a grounder which causes no problem for goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye.

46th minute: Fatawu Mohammed benefits from a swift Kotoko onslaught. However, he is an offside position. He still shoots straight into the net to incur the wrath of the referee. Fatawu thus receives a yellow card. The game ends moments after the time added-on elapses.

51st minute: Second half travels without much action. Michael Akuffu thwarts Jets’ counter attack by fouling an opponent. He therefore receives the yellow card.

56th minute: A minute after Mighty Jets’ Haruna Ganiyu went out for Yahaya Mubarak; Nathaniel Asamoah also comes on for Fatawu Mohammed. Nathaniel Asamoah breathes life into Kotoko’s attack with his pace. He heads for the goal area but his effort is thwarted by defender, Isaac Klevor.

58th minute: Yaw Frimpong runs deep inside Jets’ territory with Michael Mensah running alongside him but the right back fails to pass the ball to him as he tries a shot on goal.

60th minute: Kotoko attack still lacking the bite upfront. Michael Mensah goes out for Nafiu Iddrisu. Five minutes later, lead striker Ahmed Toure is replaced by Afranie Yeboah. Ahmed Toure appears angered by the substitution. He heads straight to the changing room.

68th minute: Mighty Jets remain strong in defence. They foil every Kotoko move. Tension begins to build up in the stadium as the visitors defend stoutly. Two minutes, later Rahim Osumanu comes on for Jacob Quao to fortify their defensive strategy.

79th minute: Kotoko players desperate to score. Nafiu Iddrisu is booked for a foul. A minute later, Winfred Dormon is pulled out for Emmanuel Laryea to sustain the defensive plan.

82nd minute: Awal Mohammed in a rare move upfront. He initiates an onslaught by beating two Jets players half way inside their field. Awal moves close to the box but he falls heavily in the process of sending the ball into the 18-yard box.

91st minute: Regulation time has elapsed. The five minute, time-added-on is in session. Goalless draw seems imminent. The fans are visibly worried. The game continues. Afranie Yeboah wins the ball upfront. He finds Nathaniel Asamoah up on the left. He runs well to perfectly curl the ball inside. Nafiu Iddrisu is there. Nafiu runs deep inside to outwit his markers to powerfully head the ball home amidst thunderous cheers.

92nd minute: The stadium erupts with loud joy as Nafiu and his team mates run on the synthetic titan tracks to celebrate, the dejected Mighty Jets players fall onto the pitch like spineless objects. Coach Maxwell Konadu goes down on his knees to thank the heavens; his opposite number however stands completely astonished with his hands on his waist.

96th minute: Referee Charles Nii Tagoe brings proceedings to an end. The elated fans applaud the effort of the team. Joined by the technical team members the players move onto the synthetic tracks to thank the fans for their unflinching support.

Kotoko: Soulama Abdoulaye, Yaw Frimpong, Amos Frimpong, Ohene Brenya, Awal Mohammed, Nii Adjei, Michael Akuffu, Michael Mensah/Nafiu Iddrisu, Ahmed Toure/Afranie Yeboah, David Ofei, Mohammed Fatawu/Nathaniel Asamoah.